Photo: Five top prospects for the 2016 NHL Draft were the guests of the NHL during the Stanley Cup Final, with forwards (L-R) Pierre-Luc Dubois, Auston Matthews, Matthew Tkachuk, Patrik Laine, and Alexander Nylander taking Game Four in San Jose (courtesy of Dave Sandford/NHLI via Getty Images)

While the 2016 NHL Draft lacks some of the drama that was provided leading up to last year’s draft, when Connor McDavid and Jack Eichel vied for the right to go first overall, there is nevertheless some very good talent to be had at the top of this year’s event. And even beyond the top 5, NHL clubs drafting in the first round should be able to land some good talent that will almost certainly suit up for NHL action in the not too distant future. Read more»

Photo: Edmonton Oilers rookie forward is one of three finalists for the 2015-16 Calder Trophy, which is presented to the NHL’s top rookie (courtesy of Chris LaFrance/Icon Sportswire)

The final Prospect Impressions of the year is finally here, and the top five plays of the 2015-16 season have arrived.

The Nylander name is a strong one, with a storied past that includes an NHL veteran, an NHL rookie, and a player sure to hear his name called early in the 2016 NHL Draft. But a most familiar name has provided the top individual effort in the now completed 2015-16 campaign. Read more»

Photo: Northeastern University freshman goaltender Ryan Ruck helped lead the Huskies to their first Hockey East championship since 1988 (courtesy of Richard T. Gagnon/Getty Images)

With just two Prospect Impressions left this year, we enter into the top 10 plays of the year.

Drake Caggiula recently signed with the Edmonton Oilers, but he left a lasting impression on North Dakota with a ridiculous shorthanded effort. Dylan Strome one-ups Caggiula by scoring a goal through an entire team, and others vie for a spot in the top 10 by making incredible plays! Read more»

Photo: Edmonton Oilers prospect Anton Slepyshev was a surprising inclusion on the NHL squad for 11 games last season, but his upside remains an intriguing asset (courtesy of Glenn James/NHLI via Getty Images)

Year after year for the past decade, the Edmonton Oilers have added top talents via the draft. Rather than building an enviable prospect pool, the team has only succeeded in constructing unbalanced rosters that finish near the bottom of the league standings. Still, the 2015 Draft gifted the Oilers one of the world’s best players, and several other young men who have learned the NHL game the hard way are coming into the primes of their careers. Will the supporting cast be enough to change the script in 2016-17? Only time will tell, but the Hockey’s Future prospect awards for 2015-16 serve to highlight some of the more encouraging signs from a mostly disappointing campaign.

Photo: Edmonton Oilers rookie forward Connor McDavid is competing for Team Canada at his first IIHF World Championship after winning gold with Canada at the U20 World Junior Championship in 2015 (courtesy of Pavel Bednyakov/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)

The 2016 IIHF World Championship started with the most anticipated match-up, according to North American fans. Not only was it Canada against the USA, but the game featured the senior men’s national team debuts of Connor McDavid and Auston Matthews – the No. 1 overall draft pick last season and the presumptive No. 1 pick this year. Read more»